Seven

Ryan twirled Tessa on the dance floor and then drew her back into his arms as they danced to one of his favorite upbeat country songs. Everyone around them seemed to be singing along with the lyrics which were both funny and slightly irreverent.

Tessa turned her back to him, threw her hands up, and wiggled her full hips as she sang loudly.

His attention was drawn to the sway of those sexy hips keeping time to the music. Fortunately, her dancing was much more impressive than her singing. Something his anatomy responded to, even if he didn’t want it to. Particularly not while they were in the middle of a crowded dance floor.

Ryan swallowed hard and tried to shove away the rogue thoughts trying to commandeer his good sense. He and Tessa were just two friends enjoying their night together. Having a good time.

Nothing to see here, folks.

“Everything okay?” Tessa had turned around, her beautiful brown eyes focused on him and a frown tugging down the corners of her mouth.

“Yeah, of course.” He forced a smile. “I was just...thinking...that’s all.” He started to dance again, his movements forced and rigid.

Tessa regarded him strangely, but before she could probe further, Alexis appeared beside them looking flustered. Her eyes were red, and it looked like she’d been crying.

“Alexis, is something wrong?” Tessa turned to her friend and squeezed her hand.

“I’m afraid so. I’ve been looking everywhere for you two. Would you mind meeting with James and me in the office as soon as possible?” Alexis leaned in, so they could both hear her over the blaring music.

“Of course, we will.” Tessa gave the woman’s hand another assuring squeeze. “Just lead the way.”

Alexis made her way through the crowd with Tessa and Ryan following closely behind.

Ryan bit back his disappointment at the interruption. If the distress Alexis appeared to be experiencing was any indication, the situation was one level below the barn being on fire. Which triggered a burning in his gut.

Whatever Alexis and James wanted with the two of them, he was pretty sure neither of them was going to like it.


“Tessa, Ryan, please, have a seat.” James Harris, president of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, gestured to the chairs on the other side of the large mahogany desk in his office.

After such a successful night, he and Alexis looked incredibly grim. The knot that had already formed in her gut tightened.

She and Ryan sat in the chairs James indicated while Alexis sat on the sofa along one wall.

“Something is obviously wrong.” Ryan crossed one ankle over his knee. “What is it, James?”

The other man hesitated a moment before speaking. When he did, the words he uttered came out in an anguished growl.

“There was a problem with one of the bids. A big problem.”

“Gail.” Tessa and Ryan said her name simultaneously.

“How does something like this happen?” Ryan asked after James had filled them both in. “Can anyone just walk in off the street and bid a bogus hundred K?”

James grimaced.

Tessa felt badly for him. James hadn’t been president of the Texas Cattleman’s Club for very long. She could only imagine how he must be feeling. He’d been riding high after putting on what was likely the most successful fund-raiser in the club’s history. But now he was saddled with one of the biggest faux pas in the club’s history.

“It’s a charity auction. We take folks at their word when they make a bid,” James replied calmly, then sighed. “Still, I don’t like that this happened on my watch, and I’ll do everything I can to remedy the situation.”

Tessa’s heart broke for the man. She didn’t know James particularly well, but she’d heard the tragic story about what had happened to his brother and his sister-in-law. They’d died in an accident, leaving behind their orphaned son, who was little more than a year old, to be raised by James.

He was a nice enough guy, but he didn’t seem the daddy type. Still, he was obviously doing the best he could to juggle all the balls he had in the air.

Tessa groaned, her hand pressed to her forehead. “I knew Gail had a thing for Lloyd Richardson, but I honestly never imagined she’d do something so reckless and impulsive.”

“No one thinks you knew anything about it, Tess. That’s not why we asked you here,” Alexis assured her.

“Then why are we here?” Ryan’s voice was cautious as he studied the other man.

“Because we have another dilemma that could compound the first problem.” James heaved a sigh as he sat back in his chair, his hands steepled over his abdomen. “And we could really use your help to head it off.”

“Was there another bid that someone can’t make good on?” Ryan asked.

“No, but there is a reporter here, whom I invited.” Alexis cringed as she stood. “He’s intrigued by that one-hundred thousand dollar bid, and he wants to interview Gail and Lloyd.”

“Damn. I see your dilemma.” Ryan groaned sympathetically. “Instead of getting good press about all of the money the club did raise, all anyone will be talking about is Gail and her bogus bid.”

“It gets even worse,” Alexis said. She blew out a frustrated breath as she shook her head, her blond locks flipping over her shoulder. “We can’t find hide nor hair of either Gail or Lloyd. It’s like the two of them simply vanished.”

Ryan shook his head. “Wow. That’s pretty messed up.”

“What is it that you want Ryan and me to do?” Tessa looked at James and then Alexis.

“The reporter was also very intrigued by everyone’s reaction to you and all the drama of how Ryan beat out Clem and Bo’s bids.” A faint smile flickered on Alexis’s mouth. “So we suggested that he follow the two of you on your little date.”

“What?”

Panic suddenly seized Tessa’s chest. It was one thing to play dress up and strut on the stage here at the club. Surrounded mostly by people she’d known her entire life. It was another to be followed by a reporter who was going to put the information out there for the entire world to see.

“We hadn’t really intended to go on a date,” Tessa said. “Ryan and I were just going to hang out together and have fun at the game. Grab a bite to eat at his favorite restaurant. Nothing worthy of reporting on.”

“I know.” There was an apology in Alexis’s voice. “Which is why I need to ask another big favor...”

“You want us to go on a real date after all.” Ryan looked from Alexis to James.

“Going out with a beautiful woman like Tess here, who also just happens to be your best friend...not the worst thing in the world that could happen to a guy.” James forced a smile.

“Only...well, I know that the date you’d planned is the perfect kind of day for hanging with the guys.” Alexis directed her attention toward Tess. “But this needs to feel like a big, romantic gesture. Something worthy of a big write-up for the event and for our club.”

“I d-don’t know, Alexis,” Tessa stuttered, her heart racing. “I’m not sure how comfortable either of us would feel having a reporter follow us around all day.”

“We’ll do it,” Ryan said suddenly. Decisively. “For the club, of course.” He cleared his throat and gave Tess a reassuring nod. “And don’t worry, I know exactly what to do. I’ll make sure we give him the big, romantic fantasy he’s looking for.”

“I’m supposed to be the one who takes you out on a date,” Tess objected. “That’s how this whole thing works.”

“Then it’ll make for an even grander gesture when I surprise you by sweeping you off your feet.”

He gave her that mischievous half smile that had enticed her into countless adventures. From searching for frogs when they were kids to parasailing in Mexico as an adult. After all these years, she still hadn’t grown immune to its charm.

“Fine.” Tessa sighed. “We’ll do it. Just tell him we’ll need a day or two to finalize the arrangements.”

“Thank you!” Alexis hugged them both. “We’re so grateful to you both for doing this.”

“You’re saving our asses here and the club’s reputation.” James looked noticeably relieved, though his eyebrows were still furrowed. “I can’t thank you enough. And you won’t be the only ones on the hot seat. Rose Clayton persuaded her grandson Daniel to give the reporter an additional positive feature related to the auction.”

Alexis frowned at the mention of Daniel’s name, but then she quickly recovered.

“And about that bid of Gail’s...no one outside this room, besides Gail and Lloyd, of course, knows the situation.” James frowned again. “We’d like to keep it that way until we figure out how we’re going to resolve this. So please, don’t whisper a word of this to anyone.”

“Least of all the reporter,” Alexis added, emphatically.

Tessa and Ryan agreed. Then Alexis introduced them to the reporter, Greg Halstead. After Greg gathered some preliminary information for the piece, Ryan insisted that he be the one to exchange contact information with Greg so they could coordinate him accompanying them on their date.

Every time Greg repeated the word date, shivers ran down Tessa’s spine.

The only thing worse than having a thing for her best friend was being shanghaied into going on a fake date with him. But she was doing this for the club that meant so much to her, her family and the community of Royal.

Alexis had worked so hard to garner positive publicity for the club. And she’d raised awareness of the need to fund research for a cure for pancreatic cancer—the disease that had killed Alexis Slade’s dear grandmother. Tess wouldn’t allow all of her friend’s hard work to be squandered because of Gail’s selfish decision. Not if she could do something to prevent it.

Maybe she hadn’t been aware of what Gail had planned to do tonight. But she’d been the one who’d invited Gail to tonight’s affair. Tess couldn’t help feeling obligated to do what she could to rectify the matter.

Even if it meant torturing herself by going on a pretend date that would feel very real to her. No matter how much she tried to deny it.